Running in Tara's memory to beat anorexia

Tara Sheehan was a runner.

She was a member of the 1991 New England cross- country championship Williston Northampton Academy team. She had wavy curly auburn hair. She loved horses. She skied. She was a terrific Irish step dancer.

"And she could charm a cat off a fish wagon," John Sheehan says.

		Advertisement

Like her father, who had completed two Boston marathons, the middle of the three Sheehan kids loved to run.

Tara was also skinny.

Her father didn't think it was a big deal.

"You run, you burn calories," John says. "You watch what you eat. But mothers have a sixth sense. Maureen was concerned. She thought Tara was too thin."

A doctor had more severe conclusion: Anorexia.

Tara Sheehan was starving herself.

She was 15.

CONTINUED   1 | 2  Next